Scribd
Upload
365 views2 pages

Essay 1

The story "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut depicts a dystopian future where the government forces all citizens to be equal through the use of handicaps. The Handicapper General enforces strict laws requiring citizens to wear devices that limit above-average abilities and intelligence. Anyone who disobeys and removes their handicaps faces severe punishment or death. The story uses these handicaps as a symbol of the government's attempt to control society by eliminating differences and competition between citizens. It ultimately serves as a warning about the dangers of pursuing total equality at the cost of individualism and human nature.

Uploaded by

api-428138358
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
365 views2 pages

Essay 1

The story "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut depicts a dystopian future where the government forces all citizens to be equal through the use of handicaps. The Handicapper General enforces strict laws requiring citizens to wear devices that limit above-average abilities and intelligence. Anyone who disobeys and removes their handicaps faces severe punishment or death. The story uses these handicaps as a symbol of the government's attempt to control society by eliminating differences and competition between citizens. It ultimately serves as a warning about the dangers of pursuing total equality at the cost of individualism and human nature.

Uploaded by

api-428138358
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Kim

Section 1106

Literary Analysis of “Harrison Bergeron”

Equality is a state that everyone has the same right and equal access to social goods

and services. But what if everyone were equal in abilities, intelligences or even appearances,

and everyone was ruled by one person. What would you do? Story written by Kurt Vonnegut,

Jr “Harrison Bergeron” is about government controlling people by making them equal. In

Harrison Bergeron, Kurt Vonnegut tries to show us what the society be like if everyone were

equal in every aspects by using handicaps as a symbol. Everyone is ruled by the law which is

symbolized by Handicapper General. Lastly, he uses TV to express abilities of the

government.

Handicapper General is like law that can control people. In this story there are many

scenes that government is like a law that can control people; like in the scene that George

talked to Hazel about consequences of taking something out of the handicaps. “Two years in

prison and two thousands dollars fine for every ball I took out” (line 83). Those are

consequences that the General made so that everyone will follow the law and everyone will

not get back to dark age again. The dark age is referred to the age that everyone was

competing to each other which everyone hates it. But those are just some small consequences

compared to what Harrison did. He took all of his handicaps off. So that led to this scene,

“She fired twice, and the Emperor and the Empress were dead before they hit the floor”(line

226). This referred to the situation the general fired both Harrison and another dancer. She
did like that because she wanted to show to everyone that if you do not follow the law, you

will end up like them. She did like that because she wanted to control everyone easily.

Handicaps are devices that government use to equalize people so that she will gain

power and control everyone easily.

- “This year was 2081, and everybody was finally equal”(line 1). This refers to a

society where everyone is equal in every aspect. There was no smarter or stronger

people.

- “And george, while his intelligence was way above normal, had a little mental

handicap radio in his ear”(line 17-18). George is smarter than others so he is

handicapped by the General. This happens to everyone that has higher intelligence

than others.

Actions of government that she wants everyone and the society to see are shown in

TV.

- “That must be Harrison!”(line 158). George said this after he saw Harrison in the TV.

It is a scene before Harrison stood up on the stage.

- “Something real sad on television”(line 239). This was said by Hazel, she said it after

she saw Harrison shot by the General.

Society where government tries to gain power by making everyone equal in every

aspect; abilities, intelligences or even appearances is shown in this story.

You might also like